Toys for Britain (from Melbourne)

SHOW & TELL REPORT from newish member, Paul L., and first time attendee at our February meeting. (At our Show & Tell meetings members bring ephemera of interest to show to others, for advice, comment, admiration.)

I purchased the Toys for Britain tag from Alastor Rare Books of Hampshire at the PBFA London International Premier Book Fair on 3 June 2017. The vendor was not aware of the provenance of the item.

I undertook some quick research on the tag on the internet. The Lord Mayor’s Toys for Britain appeal in 1945 is referred to in the following:

– State Library of Victoria: images H99. 201/296 to 201/300 (toys being made and completed toys being displayed in Melbourne) and H99. 201/311 (toys being presented in Britain)

– Australian War Memorial: image accession number 112077 – image of some of the 1,600 toys made by the members of the Australian Army Nursing Service, Australian Women’s Army Service and theAustralian Army Medical Women’s Service.

– Trove: various newspaper articles including The Argus on 17 May 1945 which referred to the 300 toys made by Pentridge prisoners.

Come to the fairs

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